Meanwhile in the arena…

  “We’ll take her together.” Eugene cautioned.

  “I’m taking her now!” Taiga growled, rushing forward.

  “Taiga no!” Eugene called out, but it was too late.

  Emberith unleashed a swath of flames and smoke with a swing of her sword. But Aaron met her attack with his own, pulling water out of the air instantly and causing it clash with the fire and explode into steam.

  Taiga launched herself over the steam and slammed down onto Emberith’s blade. Even she wasn’t like Eugene, her strength and speed were not to be underestimated.

  Emberith now grinned even more eagerly as she pushed the weight of her sword back and sent Taiga back, landing on her feet as she skidded backwards some.

  Eugene kept it up by slamming his foot down, causing a long fissure to break in the ground the arena and rumble as lave spewed and bubbled up. Bending to and following his command with his thoughts and gesturing of his hands, sending it further towards Emberith.

  Emberith swung her sword across, batting the lava away with a trail of ash and smog. With a twirl of her weapon she stabbed it into the ground and gave it a twist.

  “Hellfire Inferno!” She chanted, before rapidly pulling her sword back out from the ground.

  The ground all around them began to quake and rumble as geysers of fire began bust from the ground. Each spewing out toxic fumes and ashy smog. Taiga and Eugene immediately coughing and collapsing to their knees.

  Aaron let out a roar of frustration, slapping his hands together creating the sound of thunder ringing throughout the whole arena, clouds began to form over them immediately. Straining to focus this much aura and keep his train of thought was not easy.

  *’Youre much stronger than you think, and that makes easier to get lost, but even lost at sea you can always find your way. Look, and you will see, find your anchor, look for your beacon, your lighthouse in the storm.’

  Samantha’s words were running in his mind from what little time she had trained him. They still rang true.*

  “RAINMAKER!” Aaron commanded, and rain began to pour down on the arena.

  Each geyser began to die out and dissipate the smoke, as well as cooling and hardening the Lava Eugene had made. Eugene and Taiga slowly being able to breathe again, but Emberith was now drenched.

  Her eyes even more crazed, her hand shaking as gripped her sword even tighter. Letting out scream of pure rage, her aura exploded in flames ash and smog. The shape of multi eyed skull with horns loomed in the smoke of this explosion of power.

  All three teenagers looked on in horror, feeling the darkness that was these flames.

  This was Corruption. She would either burn out and go in a spectacular yet terrifying explosion, or be consumed by base element and become an elemental herself, or she would go for the impossible and try to gain a certain level of control over her corruption.

  “I can get to her, if I have an opening.” Taiga said confidently.

  “Are you sure?” Eugene asked serious, wanting her to be sure that she would not regret such an action.

  “Rin taught me that if I am to strike, I must not hesitate, if I see an opening take it. When it’s a matter of life and death, you can’t falter.” She said assuringly, recalling her own lessons with Rin while they were in the mountains.

  “Let’s finish this before she does.” Aaron chimed in, reminding them that they were still in a battle.

  Eugene stamped down hard again and made another fissure and lava burst from the ground. Aaron manipulating the water from the rain to take form and begin moving at Emberith in tandem with Eugene’s lava. Emberith blocking both attacks with a bursts of flames from both palms of her hands.

  But Taiga disappeared in a flash and reappeared infront of Emberith and meeting her eyes, her sword sheathed. Emberith bringing her blade down rapidly, but Taiga was faster as her was unsheathed and knocking the red blade up and out the way. In the same stroke she rough her blade in a downward arc and slashed Emberith across her chest.

  Just as her eyes went wide, along the trail of the deep gash flames began to erupt out of her.

  Aaron’s water and Eugene’s lava collided together and instantly hardening and offering Taiga precious seconds to try and get back before Emberith exploded.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Leaping back immediately as she went critical and unleashed a powerful blast of dark flames, ash and toxic gases and smoke, the shockwave catching Taiga and sending her and the hardened lava chunks flying.

  Eugene quickly formed a barrier out of rock, while Aaron formed a bubble like barrier of water, and a slide to catch Taiga, keeping her safe and holding her close until this fire burnt out, even with his rainstorm he’d created. What was once Emberith and now this inferno wasn’t showing any sign of stopping burning soon.

  —————————

  Rin had ensured Princess Midori and King Gregoris were safe and secure within the dungeons of the palace. An entire platoon of Holy Rune Knights with them and ‘the Lion’ Lodell had also refused to leave their side.

  “I should’ve known better, I let my guard down.” Rin sighed, momentarily resting on one knee his false hand gripping his sword. He hadn’t fought like that in years, it was clear by how fatigued he was.

  “You cut yourself short by a large margin. It was I who was struggling to keep up. But now that the both of them are safe, we can take it from here, Rin.” Lodell assured him.

  Rin looked up at him with awe, not having expected this out of Lodell, but he wasn’t going to argue with the man.

  “You should find your family, while you can. You’ve done all you can, the other guild members that are still loyal to their oaths and guild and to this kingdom will hold the line alongside the Rune Knights.” Midori added as well.

  “When the capital is secured, we will move out and aid all the villages, even if the nobles have to put in some elbow grease. We will not abandon the people, that is a promise.” King Gregoris promised, Rin taking this all in and nodding in understanding.

  “Thank you…” Rin said simply, before disappearing from dungeons in a flash.

  Midori sighed as Lodell offered a soft chuckle.

  “He certainly has changed for the better.” Lodell commented, before returning back to his defensive posture and rallying the knights and securing the dungeon further.

  Meanwhile…

  Xylia, Juni and Raiden had taken refuge at Ember’s & Cream Saloon, they had taken to sheltering and helping pass out treats to the children upon the insistence of Akina. The other adults were keeping watch and those that were hurt or injured were being treated by the apothecary across from the saloon.

  Akina had been back in an hour as she was busy guiding those who were still caught in the firefight to safety. Now it was mostly stragglers and maybe one or two coming in at a, some in need of first aid. She was probably looking for any injured that were close enough that she could pull to safety from the rubble of destroyed buildings.

  “Your brother is going to be alright, he’s being strong for the other kids like him, even impressing them with his own little bit of magic.” Xylia said softly, finally meeting up with Juni.

  Juni herself had been working to gather supplies and escort those who needed first aid or were patched up.

  “Good, that’s good.” Juni said absently, not exactly meeting her mother’s gaze.

  “Juni…” Xylia whispered, making her look up instantly.

  “Taiga and Eugene charged into the arena just after Cole was knocked out. It’s been almost four hours, the fire at the arena only just started to die down, and I know it was nothing good.” Juni said being honest, before taking a breath and letting it out.

  “Juni, you’re thinking about things too much.” Xylia said, her tone more careful.

  “I’m scared, not of those attacking. But of losing my friends, of losing Cole.” Juni said, meeting her mother’s eyes.

  “You should listen to your mother.” Rin said, making Xylia jump as she wordlessly pounded her fists against his chest, before holding onto him tightly.

  “How many times have I told you, don’t scare me like that.” Xylia whispered, Rin holding her with his real arm.

  “You know I can’t do that. Not with my friends still out there.” Juni finally said, Xylia looking her way with worry.

  “Juni. Please don’t argue, not now.” Xylia said, a little more stern.

  “Mom, dad… tell Raiden I love him, and please forgive me.” She said heavily, looking down now

  Rin tried to react first, but both were immediately caught in her gaze. Her eyes glowing only momentarily. Petrifying them both momentarily, but a moment long enough for her to make a break for it it out the back door, rushing down the destroyed alleys and trying to find Cole by his aura, the threads that tethered them together were strong, sh had to find him before it was too late.

  The moon was almost directly over the very palace itself.

  “Going somewhere?” Akina’s voice chimed in, causing Juni screech to a halt.

  “Here to stop me too? Talk me out being foolish and reckless?” Juni retorted, her tone agitated she was being held up.

  “God’s no. I’ve done far worse and more stupid in a lifetime alone. It’s just I never thought I’d see this, in all my days. I only know of the legends preserved in scrolls in the Dragonbone Shrines on Eden. Legends of marvelous creatures and when the god’s walked their creation.” Akina said, walking past her now.

  Juni truly unable to comprehend what Akina had just said. But in the back of her mind, she knew what Juni herself knew.

  “Just know this will not go the way you think. You can’t turn back now, just remember when you think you’ve made it out. Nothing truly stays buried.” Akina cautioned, almost like she was predicting something that was to pass if Juni did not heed it.

  Juni watched Akina for a moment before she returned back to the direction of her establishment, she didn’t need to ask, Juni knew she would take care of her family. Taking off again she hurried off to try and find Cole…